In 1862, German naturalist Eduard von Martens encountered a small stingray in a Jakarta fish market on Java, then part of the Dutch East Indies. It drew his attention, and he bought the dead specimen. What he did not realize was that this particular stingray would become the last known individual of its species for science to ever observe.
No other specimens have been documented or captured since. More than 160 years later, this creature—now named the Javan stingray (Urolophus javanicus)—is recognized as the first marine fish declared extinct due to human actions, a determination reached by scientists evaluating the Red List of Threatened Species at Charles Darwin University (CDU) in Australia.
The Javan stingray is a plate-sized ray so rare that the 1862 specimen was once the sole known example. Its extinction story is a stark reminder of how quickly coastal ecosystems can lose a species when pressures mount.
Illustration of endangered species by FAO
Biologist and lead evaluator Julia Constance explained that intense and often unregulated fishing likely drove the extinction of the Javan stingray. She noted that predation on coastal fishes in the Java Sea had already declined by the 1870s, highlighting the cumulative effect of activities along Java’s northern coast, especially around Jakarta Bay. The rapid pace and scale of habitat loss and degradation in these highly industrialized areas intensified the threat, ultimately contributing to the species’ disappearance.
The international team of scientists gathered all available information about the Javan stingray, including studies and monitoring data, and employed modeling to conclude that it was the first marine ray driven to extinction by human activities. Benaya Simeon, a CDU scientist who tracks threatened rays in Indonesia, emphasized that the Javan stingray was unique to the island and possessed no close relatives. Its failure to appear in extensive monitoring across Java reinforced the conclusion of extinction.
Will the vaquita be the next to go extinct?
The recent news comes as the International Whaling Commission (IWC) prepares to issue an extinction warning for a marine mammal for the first time in seven decades. The vaquita (Phocoena sinus), found in Mexico’s Gulf of California, is estimated to number only about ten individuals. Without swift action, it may follow the Javan stingray into oblivion.
Conservationists warn that the vaquita situation underscores the broader risk to marine fauna from overexploitation and habitat degradation. A stark reminder is that progress in protecting one species cannot come at the expense of others; coordinated efforts are needed to safeguard habitats and fishery practices so that remaining populations can recover where possible.
In 2020, a different fish, the smooth handfish (Sympterichthys unipennis), was declared extinct by researchers. The status was later questioned when the IUCN reclassified it as data deficient, meaning there is insufficient information to confirm its extinction with certainty. This reclassification invites renewed inquiry and emphasizes the uncertainty that can surround conservation assessments.
Experts stress that declaring the Javan ray extinct should serve as a warning to protect the planet’s marine species. While it is essential to support the livelihoods of communities dependent on fishing, appropriate management strategies must be adopted. Protecting habitats and reducing overfishing are critical steps that need to be pursued together to prevent further losses.
Further research and monitoring remain vital to understanding threats to rays and other marine life, and to guiding policies that balance human needs with the preservation of biodiversity. The case of the Javan stingray offers a sobering lesson about the speed with which a species can disappear and the responsibility that follows to safeguard the oceans for future generations.
References and observational data cited in this article reflect the conclusions of CDU’s Environment and Livelihoods Research Institute and collaborating researchers. (CDU, 2023) For a broader perspective on marine species extinction risks, see reports from international conservation bodies and peer-reviewed studies that document habitat loss, overfishing, and climate-related shifts in distribution.